Playing Dead to Survive

As our nation continues to struggle with the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly children, stories of bravery and heroism continue to come. The latest involves an as yet unidentified 6-year-old girl.

When killer Adam Lanza entered the girl’s first grade classroom, she decided to play dead and thankfully, this decision saved her life. The other 16 children in her class weren’t so lucky and they were all killed. This poor little girl was the only survivor.

Local pastor Jim Solomon shared the story with ABC News: “She ran out of the school building covered from head to toe with blood and the first thing she said to her mom was, ‘Mommy, I’m okay but all my friends are dead.'”

I cannot imagine the trauma this young girl and her family are experiencing right now, and this wound may never heal. However, the quick thinking and bravery this first grader exhibited amazes me. I’m sure her parents couldn’t be more proud of her, especially given the fate of her classmates. And now each day they spend together is a gift to be cherished.